Chicken Macaroni Salad (Sweet & Creamy)

Name: Chicken Macaroni Salad
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 1 lb elbow macaroni; 1 tablespoon kosher salt; 1 lb pre-cooked chicken breast strips (sliced into bite-size pieces); 1 ½ cups shredded mild cheddar; 20 oz pineapple tidbits (well drained); 1 cup chopped carrots; 1 cup chopped celery; ¾ cup finely chopped red onion; ¾ cup finely diced green peppers; ¼ cup sweet relish; ½ cup raisins; 1 ½ cups mayonnaise; 1 tablespoon dijon mustard; 1 teaspoon kosher salt; ½ teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper

Creamy Chicken Macaroni Salad in a glass bowl with a wooden spoon lifting a serving filled with chicken, elbow macaroni, pineapple, celery, carrots, red onion, raisins, and cheddar cheese coated in a rich homemade dressing.

A sweet and savory pasta salad with chicken, pineapple, raisins, and sharp cheddar in a creamy mayo dressing. Comes together fast and holds up well for potlucks and make-ahead meals.

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Table of Contents

Why Chicken Macaroni Is Sweet
Ingredients For Chicken Macaroni Salad
Substitutions and Additions
How to Make Chicken Macaroni Salad
Make-Ahead Must Know Tips (Why It Dries Out, and How To Fix It)
Leftover Storage
FAQ For Macaroni Pasta Salad
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In This Post

My 'famous' chicken macaroni salad is the sweet, creamy version that disappears fast at potlucks - and it sure does! I've never made this dish where there was a drop of leftovers. Pasta, chicken, and cheese soak up a pineapple and sweet relish dressing until every bite has that sweet-savory pull, and it holds up in the fridge for days without losing that texture.

If you've had a "chicken macaroni salad" before that was all mayo, mustard, and celery, this one's going to surprise you. There are really two different salads that share this name. One's savory and stops there. This one is sweeter, with the pineapple, raisins, and sweet relish working against the mayo, and once you know that, the flavor makes a lot more sense.

A large white bowl of creamy Chicken Macaroni Salad with elbow macaroni, chicken, pineapple, celery, carrots, red onion, raisins, and cheddar cheese on a wooden board.

Why Chicken Macaroni Is Sweet

Pineapple, raisins, and sweet relish are the whole reason this salad works. Skip one and you'll notice, the balance tips savory and it starts tasting like regular pasta salad with some chicken in it.

All three together, and you get that sweet-savory hit in every bite that makes people go back for seconds even when they said they were full. If mayo-mustard-celery is what you picture when you hear "chicken macaroni salad," reset your expectations. This isn't that.

Ingredients For Chicken Macaroni Salad

Ingredient lineup for Chicken Macaroni Salad with labeled amounts including elbow macaroni, chicken breast, pineapple tidbits, cheddar cheese, celery, carrots, green peppers, red onion, raisins, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, sweet relish, salt, and black pepper. Text on image shows ingredient quantities for the recipe.

1 lb elbow macaroni
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 lb pre-cooked flame-grilled chicken breast strips, sliced into bite-size pieces
1 ½ cups shredded mild cheddar
20 oz pineapple tidbits, well-drained
1 cup chopped carrots
1 cup chopped celery
¾ cup finely chopped red onion
¾ cup finely diced green peppers
¼ cup sweet relish
½ cup raisins
1 ½ cups mayonnaise
1 tablespoon dijon mustard
1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper

Substitutions and Additions

Sub the pre-cooked chicken: Rotisserie chicken works, or poach chicken breast and shred it once it's cooled. You can use any chicken really, even some leftovers. Just make sure it's seasoned lightly.
Not a raisin person? Leave them out, or swap in dried cranberries for a flavor that's more tart.
Different pasta shape. Small shells or ditalini hold the dressing about as well as elbow macaroni.

How to Make Chicken Macaroni Salad

FIRST STEP: Cook the macaroni according to package directions. Drain it and rinse it under cold water right away to stop the cooking.

SECOND STEP: Let the macaroni drain completely, then add it to a large bowl, at least 6 to 7 quarts.

THIRD STEP: Slice the chicken into bite-size pieces and add it to the bowl along with the cheddar, drained pineapple, carrots, celery, red onion, green peppers, and sweet relish.

Overhead process photo showing Chicken Macaroni Salad ingredients arranged in a glass bowl, including cooked elbow macaroni, diced chicken breast, pineapple tidbits, celery, red onion, green peppers, carrots, raisins, sweet relish, and shredded cheddar cheese before mixing. — The chicken and pineapple tidbits should be approximately the same size, and all the other veggies should be diced small, so they'll incorporate evenly into the salad.

FOURTH STEP: In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, mustard, salt, and pepper until smooth.

Creamy homemade dressing for Chicken Macaroni Salad mixed in a glass measuring cup, showing a smooth mayonnaise-based dressing seasoned and ready to coat the pasta salad ingredients. — Full-fat mayo gives you the best flavor - it's really tangy and creamy, and coats the salad better than lower-fat versions.

FIFTH STEP: Pour the dressing over the macaroni and stir until everything's coated. If you're serving right away, dig in. If you're making it ahead, cover it tightly and chill until you're ready.

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Overhead view of finished Chicken Macaroni Salad in a large glass mixing bowl, featuring elbow macaroni, tender chicken breast, pineapple tidbits, celery, carrots, red onion, green peppers, raisins, cheddar cheese, and creamy dressing.

Make-Ahead Must Know Tips (Why It Dries Out, and How To Fix It)

If you're making this a day ahead, you need to know this: the pasta in this salad keeps absorbing the dressing while it sits, so a salad that looked perfectly creamy the night before can look dry by the time you end up serving it. That's not a mistake and it's not going your salad going bad - in fact, it will still taste delicious - it's just what ay pasta does sitting in mayo overnight.

The fix is easy. Hold back about ¼ of the dressing when you first mix everything, and stir it in right before serving if it's been sitting for a day. If it still looks a bit dry, just add 2-3 tablespoons of mayo. This will make it taste like you just made it.

Leftover Storage

This keeps well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. You may need to stir in a bit of mayo to give it back the creamy texture. Skip the freezer. Mayo-based dressings separate once thawed and there's no bringing that texture back.

Spoonful of Chicken Macaroni Salad featuring tender chicken, elbow macaroni, pineapple, celery, carrots, red onion, raisins, and cheddar cheese coated in a creamy dressing.

FAQ For Macaroni Pasta Salad

Can I use canned chicken instead of pre-cooked strips?

Yes, just drain it well and break it up so it doesn't clump.

Do I need to chill it before serving?

Only if you're making it ahead. If you're serving right away, it's ready to eat as soon as it's mixed.

Can I make this without mayo?

I highly recommend full-fat mayo for this recipe. However, you can sub in low-fat if you have to. You can also swap in Greek yogurt or a yogurt-mayo blend, but the texture changes. Straight yogurt is thinner and won't cling to the pasta the same way.

Why did my salad turn out watery?

If this salad ends up watery, it's almost always the pineapple. If it's not drained well, the extra liquid works its way into the dressing and thins everything out.